SBC Voices

Last night I was invited to speak at a small rally in Gary, Indiana in solidarity with the people of Ferguson, Missouri. The following are my remarks at that event:   If will allow me tonight, I want to speak both as a white man and as a pastor. A recent PEW research poll demonstrates that Whites have different views than African-Americans on whether or not the shooting raises important issues about race. I first heard about the shooting two Sunday mornings ago on facebook. While my white friends were talking about the deaths of a NASCAR driver and a famous comedian, my … [Read more...] about One more post about Ferguson — Why this event DOES raise important issues about race and why that matters to me

I've been a regular attender of an SBC church since 9 months before I was born. It's all I've known. I attended a Baptist-affiliated college, then after a brief and blessed stay at a conservative but non-denominational seminary, I graduated from SWBTS. I'm SBC born, SBC bred, and when I die I'll be SBC dead. In fact, one of the strongest moments of divine call I had in my life was when I sense God's leading to return to the SBC fold and move from Dallas to Southwestern, to invest my life in the SBC. My dad was lobbying for me to find another place to serve - his frustration with the SBC of the … [Read more...] about Maybe the SBC Isn’t for You?

“Watch the video,” The Five’s Greg Gutfeld tells the American public, in reference to ISIS’ video of the beheading of American journalist James Foley. For Gutfeld, watching the video is a justified act because it can arouse a better understanding of the terror ISIS pledges against our country. I can’t help but wonder, however, as an American with no National Security credentials, if watching a barbarous assassination of an innocuous life is the best way to confirm ISIS’ unbridled terrorism. Isn’t it enough to trust my officials and know that it happened? Or do I really need to watch a … [Read more...] about Should I Watch the James Foley Beheading Video?

I do not know precisely what happened that tragic day when Officer Darrell Wilson shot Michael Brown to death. I've read some reports and watched some video, and gone back and forth thinking, "This is unconscionable police brutality and murder" to "Wow, what else could the officer do?" I don't have all the facts, just press reports and some opinions and a lot more questions than answers. I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one left with some doubts, but most of the opinions I'm reading declaim with certainty and confidence that I just don't have. Those who opine seem assured that they … [Read more...] about Observations on the Ferguson Tragedy

“Whew,” says the relieved dad. He’s just discovered that his twelve year old boy had pulled Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition out of the mailbox and stuffed it under his bed. You might be wondering why dad is saying, “whew”. It’s because he’s actually relieved that his little boy has a swimsuit edition under his bed instead of a muscle magazine filled with half-naked fellas. Dad has been secretly nervous for years that his little boy might be gay. He had told himself that his sons propensity for flowers and playing dress up was just a phase. He kept telling himself that straight guys … [Read more...] about Celebrating a Hollow Victory In Your Child’s Sexuality

I got challenged to pour a bucket of ice water on my head today, to help raise awareness (and funds, I guess) for ALS research. I've never really known anyone who had ALS, other than public figures, but I am aware of the disease - any lifelong Yankee fan knows about Lou Gehrig and the disease named after him. It is a terrible disease. I get appeals all the time from the heart fund, the cancer society, Jerry Lewis, Wounded Warriors, Susan G. Komen, the March of Dimes, and the Children's Miracle Network. They are all, I'm sure, worthy charities. There are hundreds of charities making hundreds … [Read more...] about Ice Buckets, Charity and Choices

You are in a desert wasteland. You haven’t eaten food in days. The last time  you had a drink of water was two days ago. You are parched and your stomach is screaming at you. You don’t know when your next meal or drink will be coming. In the distance you see Monty Hall and boy does he have a sweet deal for you. With the sun beating down on you and sapping what remaining strength you have, you crawl to him. He tells you about the beautiful prize that could be yours. It’s a lifetime supply of the most amazing food that you’ll ever eat. Any restaurant will serve you any food that you want … [Read more...] about Would You Make This Deal?

What Fathers and Mothers Need to Know About Ferguson Psalm 78:5-7 By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. On Saturday, August 9, about 2:15 p.m., a shooting took place in Ferguson, Missouri, that will forever be etched on the collective psyches of all Americans. Ferguson, Missouri, was not on the radar screen of most Americans until the news begin to circulate over the past several days, that yet another young African American male had been shot and killed by a police officer. Complete facts and details surrounding the young man’s death are still largely unknown. But what is known has triggered … [Read more...] about What Fathers and Mothers Need to Know about Ferguson (William Dwight McKissic, Sr.)

I was invited to a back to school celebration this week.  The keynote speaker, Dr Draper (not that Dr. Draper) shared with us that we need to be positive when we talk about schools. . . other schools.  He made the comment that most people in the US think that their schools are good, but every other school in the US is bad.  They say that the schools in general in this country are failing, but their school is doing better. Wow, he could have been talking about the church.  We say how broken the American church is, but our church is different.  Ours is ok and doing the right things, but in … [Read more...] about Maybe We Should be More Positive

JP Williams is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Archie, MO. He blogs at Believing Out Loud. In the wake of Robin Williams' death, this is a "letter" JP wrote to his best friend who committed suicide 20 years ago. Dear Alex, It has been about twenty years since we cut class. Man, was that ever a fun time. Running free. Hearts racing, hoping we didn’t get caught. Sure the Highway patrol was on the lookout for two truants. Guitar shopping. Blasting punk rock on that old Emerson boom box. Checking out the Concert Express catalog. Taco (sort-of) Bueno. We must have been a … [Read more...] about The Tears of a Clown (by JP Williams)